PA DCNR - resource - August 2000

DCNR Header

August 2000

Growing Greener funds park, forest upgrades

The sounds of pounding hammers can be heard throughout the state park system as $4.6 million in new Growing Greener funds was awarded in June and July for improvements to five state parks and a state forest.

Cement Mixer Upgrades and enhancements are planned for Neshaminy State Park, Bucks County; Prince Gallitzin State Park, Cambria County; Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, Cumberland County; Frances Slocum State Park, Luzerne County; R.B. Winter State Park, Union County; and Tioga State Forest, Tioga County.

“Growing Greener is quickly transforming the nation’s best state park and forest system into something even better,” Lt. Gov. Mark S. Schweiker said. “As visitors head out this summer, they’ll see the state’s largest environmental investment at work.”

DCNR will use about $125 million in Growing Greener funds over five years to eliminate the infrastructure-maintenance backlog in state parks and forests. Since January, $11.7 million in projects has been awarded. Money will provide for major repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, sewer and water systems, campsites and cabins, buildings, dams, marinas, trails, and other needed improvements as necessary.

DCNR expects to annually tackle about 25 projects totaling $26 million in “Growing Greener” funding. Growing Greener will be added to existing maintenance funding sources such as the Keystone Recreation Park and Conservation Fund.

The Growing Greener $650 million spending plan Gov. Ridge sought and signed into law in December also focuses on preserving farmland and protecting open space; cleaning up abandoned mines and restoring watersheds; providing funds for greenways, trails and community parks; helping communities address land use; and providing new and upgraded water and sewer systems.

Following is a county-by-county list of sites being rehabilitated and the cost of the repairs:

Bucks County
Neshaminy State Park, $561,676 to Pennsbury Excavating & Landscaping Inc., Morrisville, to rehabilitate park roads and parking lots;

Cambria County
Prince Gallitzin State Park, $848,983 to State Pipe Services Inc. of Cranberry Township to rehabilitate the sewage-collection system;

Cumberland County
Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, $768,000 to George S. Hann & Sons Inc., Fort Littleton, to make major improvements to the 32-room stone mansion built around 1908, including accessibility for people with disabilities, a new dining room and temporary office space; and $521,705 to Herre Brothers, Enola, for plumbing, electrical and HVAC work on the mansion;

Luzerne County
Frances Slocum State Park, $397,194 to Kaminski Brothers Inc, Pittston; and $42,202 to Lake Construction Inc., Avoca, for roadways and parking improvements;

Tioga County
Tioga State Forest, $627,775 to Robert Feaster Corp., Northumberland; $168,000 to Silvertip Inc., Lewisburg, for construction of an addition to the district office; and $80,495 to S.R.S. Electric, Hummels Wharf, for the electrical construction of the office addition;

Union County
R.B. Winter State Park, $239,444 to The Quandel Group Inc., Harrisburg, for general construction of a new camper’s washhouse and vending station; $57,000 to TQA Fabrications Inc., Clearfield, for mechanical work on the washhouse and vending station; $30,000 to K&N Electric, Sunbury, for electrical work on the washhouse and vending station; and $288,100 to HRI Inc. Eastern Region, Williamsport, for general construction of new sanitary sewage system in the eastern camp and day-use area.

For more information, visit Pennsylvania’s award-winning home page; the “Growing Greener” web site at www.GrowingGreener.org; or www.dcnr.state.pa.us.

Previous Article Next Article

| E-mail | DCNR Home | Search |